-1[Happy 2010 X-MAS Everyone! Please Review!]

Lower Quarters

Tsukasa ran to greet Tadase who carried Yoru back into the church. "Thank you Tadase, you should rest for the night. Where's Amu?"

"She said she had to go," Tadase answered.

Seeing Tadase's upset expression, Tsukasa patted him on the back and took Yoru from his arms. "I'm sure Amu is fine. You'll see her in school tomorrow. She might've went home because her father was worried."

Tadase smiled, "yeah. Amu really does care for her father. Good night Tsukasa."

Tsukasa carried Yoru in the opposite direction to Yoru's room. He gently put the sleeping boy into his bed. He pulled the duvet over Yoru and was slightly startled as Yoru woke and grabbed his hands. He sighed, "Yoru, I'll need to talk to you tomorrow about your behaviour tonight. Now go to sleep."

"I didn't do anything wrong," Yoru said, "I only went because you wouldn't let us go there. It looked fun to me."

Tsukasa now grabbed onto Yoru, worried, "Yoru, don't tell me you went to the lower quarters."

Yoru nodded.

Tsukasa bit his lips in frustration, "you're not hurt are you?"

Yoru nodded, "I'm fine."

Tsukasa didn't raise his voice but put on a very serious tone, "Yoru, I've been telling you not to go to the lower quarters. It's places where kids can't go. Your grounded. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Because the place is full of bad boys and girls," Yoru continued, "I saw something when I was there. It was scary, but that guy was cool too."

Tsukasa looked at Yoru, "what did you see?"

Yoru looked around as though hesitating whether to tell or not, then said, "there was this guy waiting in the park alone. Then a girl with her face covered appeared and that guy looked happy at first. I think he called a name beginning with A, but I was quite far away so I couldn't tell." Yoru paused.

Tsukasa sighed, knowing Yoru wanted him to ask before continuing, "what happened after?"

"Then the guy started to walk towards the girl but then she pulled out this big chopping knife and cut at the guy's face. The guy fell to the floor and then another guy appeared and laughed. He pointed at the guy who was hurt and said, Drug. What is that Tsukasa?"

"Erm, something bad I think. He must've been name-calling…"

"Well," Yoru continued, "I was too scared to watch anymore so I ran back down to the riverbank and Tadase found me."

Tsukasa patted Yoru on the head, holding his hands. "I'll stay till you sleep. Your safe now."

Yoru stared at Tsukasa for awhile before closing his eyes and falling asleep. Lower quarter, Tsukasa thought, drug… it must be just a normal drug addict fight. Yoru is so troublesome, I hope he doesn't have any nightmares.

Tsukasa looked out into the night sky. There were no stars. Was this a bad sign? It did look more unsettled than ever.

Outside in this unsettled night where it was almost to an end…and end was what Amu felt. Amu dropped to her knees. It was over. He wasn't there, no one was. The place was deathly empty. "Ikuto," Amu whispered, clutching at her chest. She felt guilt and terrible for forgetting him. "I'm sorry Ikuto." She wanted to reverse time. If she could choose again she would never have been so relaxed and spent her time with Tadase. She felt awful thinking more about it. "I'm sorry Ikuto," she said again. Amu got up from the ground and slowly walked back home where she knew was empty. What was she going to do? Would he be mad? Amu waited the entire night until she could no longer wait and fell asleep only slightly into the morning. She woke, glancing at the clock on the wall. She was late for school but that didn't matter to her anymore. One or two days off school wouldn't affect her. What she cared most about now was for Ikuto's well-being. She looked around the living room and fear started to creep into her once more. Ikuto wasn't there. The house was as empty as before when she came home yesterday. There was no sign of Ikuto ever returning home from last night. "Ikuto," Amu said, desperate and scared. "what if night Ikuto did something dangerous again? Ikuto. It should be day Ikuto now so… where is he?"

Amu ran into her bedroom, did a quick change of clothes, put on her coat and opened the door. The phone rang and Amu quickly ran to it, hoping it was Ikuto. "Hello," she said.

There was a pause before a deep male voice spoke, "Souko, its been awhile hasn't it?"

Amu felt really disappointed that it wasn't Ikuto. She was so tempted to just drop the phone and run straight out the house to find him at once.

The person on the other end continued, hearing no response from Amu, "have you been well? Are you still weak as usual? How are the ki-"

"I'm sorry," Amu said cutting him off, whoever he was. "I'm not Souko."

"Your not?" the man asked sounding rather surprised.

"I think you've got the wrong place. I live here and there is no one called Souko here," Amu said clearly.

Amu heard the man sighed, "I see. I'm sorry to bother you."

Amu closed the phone. She was quite irritated that a stranger had to phone now when she was about to leave. Stepping out the house, she made sure to lock the door, not knowing how long it's take to find Ikuto. But it was better this time. She had a much better idea of where to find night Ikuto. The only thing was, is night Ikuto still awake or was Amu just being paranoid from her guilt in forgetting the meeting. Amu took her time walking down to the part of town that she knew night Ikuto was most-likely to frequent. The "lower quarters" it was called because of the so many gangsters and drug addicts that hung around those part of the streets. Kukai lived there as well. It was her best bet. Amu sighed looking around. It was so dark the other night and she was so confused that she didn't really take notice of directions. She looked around and saw two smoking women leaning against the wall. It would be better than asking a guy. She slowly approached them. "excuse me. Do you happen to know-"

"Yeah," one of the women said, "I'll take you there."

"But…how when I haven't even," Amu tried to protest but the two women grabbed her arm, one each and started to drag her along.

"Don't be so scared?" the other said, blowing smoke into Amu's face.

"We can tell already by your look your not used to these areas. WE know what you are looking for," the women assured with a smile.

Did they really know? She hadn't even said anything yet, did they really know? Amu questioned logically. "I'm looking for a guy named Ikuto or I think he's called Kukai."

"We told you we know already."

"Kukai always plays cards with us. He should be there at around this time."

"You know Kukai?" Amu asked, surprised at how lucky she was.

The two women nodded. "Just don't say anymore ok. We like a little peace and quiet. You see hanging in the bars for too long is bad for our ears."

Amu went silent, nodding. It should be alright? Amy thought. Ikuto should be with Kukai. She was going to see Ikuto at last or even if it was his friend it should be fine. The guy named Kukai didn't look too bad. She should be able to reason with him if it came down to it. I hope night Ikuto isn't mad at me for not turning up last night…

They started to stray off the big path and enter a small alleyway. It didn't seem right, the way they were heading or going. Amu started to struggle but it was too late. The two women had their grip on her tight and no matter how Amu tried to struggle she couldn't get loose.

"Let go," Amu screamed.

Her fears didn't end. Amu was pushed to the floor before two other guys who looked dangerous and disgusting. They licked their lips staring at Amu. It made her shiver from disgust. Now Amu knew she wasn't lucky. Those women didn't know who Kukai was, they tricked her. One of the guys stroked Amu's cheek and smirked. Amu watched as the guys handed the women some money. "They're selling me…" Amu gasped finally realising what the two women was doing. She got to her feet and tried to run but one of the men grabbed her by the hair. Amu screamed. How could this happen? Why was she so stupid? Why did she do so many idiotic things when it came to Ikuto? Why can't she think straight? This was worse. This was way worse than if it was night Ikuto doing this to her. Amu turned and bit the man's hand. She was free and began to run. She heard them chasing after her, calling her bitch. Amu didn't dare stop running but she couldn't go any further. There was someone in her way. Amu literally ran into that person, who caught her still. There was a sweet smell and soft touch. Amu looked up to see a really pretty girl. Not just pretty but extremely beautiful. Her long golden hair drifting around her slender shoulders.

"Back off, she's my friend," the girl said with a musical voice. It sounded so nice; it resonated in Amu's heart. Amu turned to see the two women and men leave. Who was this girl? She had such authority to make those people leave…

"Should you really be here?" the girl asked Amu.

"I'm looking for someone."

"You?" the girl asked, "a innocent girl like you."

Amu gulped. For a strange reason she felt that this girl could be trusted or that she meant no harm. This girl did help her after all. "I'm looking for a guy called…" Amu stopped and thought things through. It may be better to say Kukai than Ikuto since Kukai lived in this area and not Ikuto. "Kukai."

The girl tilted her head, "oh. I'll take you there."

Amu looked at the girl.

She smiled, "I won't sell you like the other two. How about I walk a slight distance in front of you."

Amu gave a weak smile back and nodded. She followed the girl who hummed a melody as she walked. It was a pleasant tune and one that Amu found herself loving. She stopped and pointed at the tatty looking bungalow. "This where you looking for."

Amu smiled, recognising the building. She ran towards the door and started to knock. She stopped and turned almost forgetting to thank the girl but by the time she had turned, the girl was already gone.

Amu closed her eyes, feeling the air shut from her lungs as a pair of hands clasped round her mouth and nose from behind, dragging her into the house. The door closed shut and she was thrown into the small living room.

"You. What do you want?"

Choking for air Amu looked at Kukai who didn't seem happy of her presence. "Is Ikuto still-"

Kukai quickly grabbed Amu by the arm and started to drag her to the door again, "hurry up and leave."

"No," Amu protested, "I want to see Ikuto. Is he here?"

Kukai lowered his voice, "if you don't want to be killed by him then leave now."

"So he is here," Amu said, trying to push against Kukai to get back inside. So night Ikuto could even take over during the day, but why? This shouldn't be normal.

"No listen," Kukai whispered more desperately, "don't bother Ikuto anymore. Just go"

"NO," Amu said more loudly, "I WON'T LEAVE TILL I SEE IKUTO!"

"Stop struggling…go away…"

"LET HER IN KUKAI," Ikuto shouted from further in the house.

Amu pushed passed Kukai and ran towards Ikuto's voice. Was he alright? He didn't get hurt or was in a fight again was he? "Ikuto," Amu called, turning the corner to come face to face with a gun. She gasped stepping back to look at Ikuto who had a deep bleeding gash across his chin, that stretched to a part of his neck. What on earth happened last night?

"Ikuto, put that away," Kukai called, running towards Ikuto who held it against Amu. "Stop it. We promised we'd destroy this before anything happens."

"I will destroy it Kukai," Ikuto said, "but first I'll use it on this bitch."

"What are you saying?" Amu asked, her voice shaken.

"Ah, isn't this wound pretty?" Ikuto asked, "I got it thanks to you. I should've known that you were a lowly bitch. Saying how much you liked me and even going to the extent to put yourself in danger - in the end you were lying from the start to save yourself. In the end you were planning something. In the end you planned to kill me."

"NO," Amu cried. His accusations were like dagger to her heart, "I never…I would never…"

"Then tell me why the hell that bastard Sanjo was there ready to ambush me," Ikuto shouted.

"Who? What Sanjo?"

"Kairi Sanjo," Kukai answered, "he's our enemy. He's basically after Ikuto's life. Normally, he couldn't get near Ikuto at all but yesterday night. He was more than prepared. You can tell by that wound."

Amu shook her head, "I don't know him. I really don't."

"You think I'd believe you," Ikuto said with much anger, "you didn't even bother to show up."

"No I was…I'm sorry…I was- AHHH…"

Amu fell back onto the floor. The loud bang from the gun shot echoing in the tiny space that surrounded. She was trembling but her body was stiff as well from the fear that now possessed her. The bullet didn't hit her, but just hearing it go off was already bloodcurdling to Amu. Scary, scary. It was too scary. Ikuto loomed over her, still pointing the gun at her. He was going to fire again. "Amu, you've messed with me enough. I wouldn't have cared if you just lied about liking me to save yourself." Ikuto leaned in towards Amu who was so scared now that she wasn't just shaking but was also crying. He grabbed her face, turning it to face his, "I can't forgive you for setting me up for that bastard to kill. Disappear."

"Ikuto…" Amu choked and sobbed from her own crying, "I really didn't…I really…didn't. Help… Help me…"

All hope disappeared as she watched from the corner of her eye Kukai leaving the room, closing the door behind him. He wasn't going to help her.

BANG! Amu screamed. Ikuto had fired again. This time near her ear. The sound of the gun firing so close was deafening. It was painful. Amu felt a loud ringing or buzzing in her ear that hurt and blocked her hearing of anything else.

Ikuto hissed into her other ear, "spit out the truth. You were the one who chose the place and never showed up. Were you sent by Kairi Sanjo?"

"No…I don't know him. I don't know anything…" Amu repeated faintly, her voice weak and virtually inaudible.

Ikuto didn't say anything or make any movements. He was probably waiting for her to say something that was more believable to him.

Amu turned to look at him, who looked at her full of hate. The wound on his chin was still open, not properly treated. A drop of red blood fell onto Amu's face, mixing with her clear tears.

She was wrong, she was so wrong to forget him; wrong to be occupied with Tadase. She had already felt the guilt for forgetting Ikuto last night. Now she felt regret. Regret that she didn't turn up, that she couldn't do what she most wanted - to save day Ikuto from this violent night Ikuto. But what she most regretted was she couldn't earn the trust of this Ikuto. Till the end she was regarded as nothing; it hurt. At least though she got to see him. Strangely, Amu found herself calming down. The more she looked at Ikuto, the more calm she became. It was fine. Everything was fine. Ikuto had been her everything since the day he adopted her and now she could at least be content that her last vision alive was filled with him.

She reached up with one hand weekly to caress his face. He didn't move away from her touch, but kept his blazing gaze on her. Mad, Crazy and Wild but this was still Ikuto. Amu forced a smile on her face, "Ikuto. I hope you can truly be happy after I'm gone. Although you've done nothing but hurt me without any reason…"

"You tricked me to my death. Is that not a reason?" Ikuto contradicted.

Amu didn't know whether it will reach day Ikuto but she had to say it anyway. "Thank you for everything Ikuto…from three years ago…" She closed her eyes and waited.

Ikuto pulled the trigger.

"NO. STOP IKUTO!"